City profile · Maryland · Census ACS 2023

Westminster, MD

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Westminster - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

20,257
Residents
$79,431
Median income
$318,100
Median home
$1,857
Median rent (state)

Westminster - the verdict

Westminster ranks in the 61st percentile for household income and the 26th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

61st
percentile, household income
68th
percentile, home value
78th
percentile, median rent
26th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Westminster, MD

20,257 people live in Westminster, Maryland - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Westminster brings in $79,431 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.9%. Home values in Westminster run a median of $318,100, and the median resident age is 39.1 years. Educational attainment runs 35.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 60.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 2283.4 crimes per 100,000 residents, near the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Maryland carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 105.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,857 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Maryland's average monthly utility costs around $255 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 59.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

20,257 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Maryland

Median Household Income

$79,431 /yr

Poverty 9.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

105.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Maryland average

How does Westminster compare to other US cities?

Here's how Westminster stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 61% higher than other cities
Home value 68% pricier than other cities
Median rent 78% pricier than other cities
Safety 26% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Maryland alone, Westminster ranks #38 of 70 Maryland cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Westminster against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Maryland only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Maryland-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Westminster toward the top of Maryland's cities

Among the 479 Maryland cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Westminster ranks #94 - the 80th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Westminster only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#314 of 445
29th percentile in Maryland
Median Gross Rent
#180 of 479
38th percentile in Maryland
Median Home Value
#284 of 450
37th percentile in Maryland
Poverty Rate
#94 of 479
80th percentile in Maryland
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#235 of 479
51st percentile in Maryland

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Maryland only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

61stIncome percentile
26thSafety percentile

61st percentile nationally for median household income · 26th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Westminster's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Westminster's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 38 Avg. percentile National median
Westminster's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Westminster's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$318,100 32nd percentile more affordable than 32% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Westminster $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Westminster, MD Westminster, MD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Westminster, MD-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Westminster, MD median $79,431/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Westminster, MD's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Westminster, MD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 35.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
20,257
Median Income
$79,431
Median Home Value
$318,100
Median Age
39.1
Poverty Rate
9.9%
Labor force participation
60.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
35.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2283.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
241.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2041.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
17
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
20,000 residents20,200 residents20,400 residents20,600 residents20,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 20,147 residents 20,589 residents ▲ +2.2%
Westminster's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
73.5%
Carpool
8.6%
Public Transit
0.2%
Walk
3.0%
Work from Home
13.8%
Other
0.9%

Based on 10,337 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Maryland - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$255
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Maryland state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Maryland state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Westminster sits in

Cost of Living Index
105.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,857/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
59.5 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Maryland

Rosedale
20,845 people
Hyattsville
20,861 people
Arbutus
20,869 people
Beltsville
19,086 people
East Riverdale
19,043 people
Redland
18,976 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Westminster's 20,257 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Morristown, NJ
20,256 people
Howard, WI
20,261 people
Lynbrook, NY
20,251 people
Sherwood, OR
20,227 people
Lennox, CA
20,289 people
East Hemet, CA
20,292 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Westminster's $79,431 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Pumpkin Hollow, OK
$79,432 median income
Tom Bean, TX
$79,432 median income
Manawa, WI
$79,432 median income
McGuire AFB, NJ
$79,423 median income
Central Bridge, NY
$79,444 median income
Manahawkin, NJ
$79,417 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Westminster, MD Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Westminster, MD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 79.6% 7.7% 7.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.8% White 79.6% Black or African American 7.7% Asian 3.0% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.6% Two or more races 7.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Westminster compares to nearby Maryland cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Westminster (this city) 20,257 $79,431
Rosedale 20,845 $83,957
Hyattsville 20,861 $94,231
Arbutus 20,869 $97,215
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MD FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Westminster, MD?

What is the population of Westminster, MD? +

The population of Westminster, MD stands at 20,257 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Westminster, MD? +

In Westminster, the typical household earns $79,431 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Westminster? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Westminster; the closest available measure is the Maryland state average, a cost of living index of 105.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Maryland vary by metro area.

Is Westminster, MD safe? +

Westminster has a total crime rate of 2283.4 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Westminster, MD? +

A typical home in Westminster is worth $318,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.